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Alternative solutions 1 and 2 |
Alternative solution 1
Students now know why they are creating a system and what it is expected to do. Next, students need to discuss other possible solutions to keeping the financial results. Students often find it strange to think that the current method of storing pen and paper results and doing all the mathematics with a calculator, was the only method available in the past! Today's modern computerised systems are a lot more efficient!
For this particular project, the main reason is that a spreadsheet is the only package that can do automatic recalculations.
Calculations can be done in a Word table but the calculations are not automatically updated ... nor will a database do calculations easily. No other software will allow you to use formulae so that when data is changed, so are the results of calculation together with graphs which depict calculations.
Students are asked to think of a software program that could be used to keep all the data. For example - word processing, DTP, or a database. Students should explain how these can be used and what it could achieve.
In word processing, tables can be used to host data but users need to ensure that they update calculations if the data changes ...
Product |
Cost |
Stock |
Number bought |
Cost of stock |
Shoes |
£30.00 |
100 |
You can do calculations in word to do the sum Or use a calculator and type in results |
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With desktop publishing programmes, it is possible to design nice looking tables but results need to be worked out on a calculator!
In a database, users can input their results into a table and link tables for stock profit and sales calculations and reports. Unless the tables are linked, calculations will need to be repeated by hand.
Alternative solution 2
Obviously a better solution would be to use a spreadsheet. Students should explain what this is and how use of spreadsheet can benefit the company.
Students should be informed that they are going to be setting a spreadsheet to maintain their records. This will save on storage and be easier to search for information etc. Changing and editing records will be easier and keep backup copies.
Tasks ...
- Students should list their ideas on the benefits of a spreadsheet system over a paper-based system
- Then give 4 or 5 reasons why a spreadsheet is a better way of storing the results than a pen and paper system
Possible reasons can be obtained by reading the objectives ...
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